Compensating pin feed



17, 1954 A. A. GOPPERTON CQMPENSATING PIN FEED 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1946 I I I lllll N m w m T? N m a m I Q R A u 9U A 17, 1954 'A. A. GQPPERTQN 2,6 6 671 COMPENSATING PIN FEED Filed July 1, 1946 2 Sheefis-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A ORNEY Patented Aug. 17, 1954 COMPENSATING PIN FEED Ardath A. Gopperton, Chicago, Ill., assignor to i The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application July 1, 1946, Serial No. 680,723

11 Claims.

This invention pertains to record strip feeding means for recording and imprinting apparatus, and more particularly to a differential speed feeding means by which the speed of advancement of the record strip may be intermittently accelerated, after having been momentarily delayed, to thereby restor a uniformly timed rate of advancement thereof. In the present disclosure there is contemplated an automatically yielding feeding device to compensate for temporary restraint of the record strip upon engagement thereof by recording or imprinting devices.

Ordinarily the record strip of recording and imprinting apparatus is intermittently advanced through a step by step movement alternately with the actuation of the recording or imprinting devices. However in some instances, as for example i in time stamping of the record strip, or operation of an addressing machine, it may be desirable to momentarily arrest the advancement of the strip during the imprinting operationwithout necessarily stopping and starting the strip feeding actuating means, and without changing the ultimate rate of speed of advancement of the strip. In the present disclosure it is contemplated that the strip engaging devices shall be yieldingly mounted so that they may be momentarily delayed while the recording or imprinting operation occurs and then advanced at an accelerated rate of speed until the strip feeding devices return to synchronism with their actuating means at their normal uniform rate of advancement.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of delayed action strip feeding mechanism, whereby it may not only be economically constructed, but is more efficient in use, automatic in operation, uniform in action, have minimum working parts and be unlikely to get out of repair.

A further important object of the invention is to accurately maintain the ultimate rate of speed of advancement of the strip, regardless of interruptions thereof, and to accelerate its movement into synchronism with the established rate of advancement after each momentary arrest.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip feeding means having the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious l characteristics and mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter set forth.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is illus trated the preferred but not necessarily the only forms of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pin wheeltype strip feeding assembly embodying the present invention, as it appears during normal advancement of the strip.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same mechanism during the interval of delay of the record strip.

Fig. 3 is a transverse elevation, partly in section viewed from the right of Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. i and 5 are side elevations of a modification of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6 is an elevation viewed toward the left from a mid position of Fig. l, while the record strip is in condition for uniform advancement.

Fig. '7 is a similar view from the extreme right of Fig. 5, during the time the record strip is arrested.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment therein shown comprises a table I over which a record strip 2 is advanced beneath a guide or hold down plate 3, by rotary pin wheels 4, engageable in longitudinally spaced feed holes in the strip 2. A pair of axially spaced pinwheels 4 carried on a common hollow shaft 5 are engageable with the strip 2 adjacent to its opposite margins, which at the present time is a conventional and well known expedient Extending through th hollow pinwhee'l shaft 5 is a drive shaft 6 having at one end a drive gear pinion l which is one of a train of such gears connecting the shaft 6 with an actuating means (not shown). The pinwheel shaft 5 includes a short axially aligned relatively revoluble driving section 50. interconnected with the main pin wheel carrying portion 5 by a conventional variable 8 which enables rotatabl adjustment of the pin wheels and associated shaft 5 relative tothe short driving section 5a to present a selected area of the record strip into registry with the recording or imprinting device. Having been once adjusted, the combined shaft portions 5-5a continue to rotate in unison to advance the pin wheels. l

Attached to the shaft 6 for unison rotation is a sector 9, having therein a peripheral notch or recess l0. Fixedly secured to the tubular pin ,wheel shaft portion a closely adjacent to the the peripheral notch iii of the sector 9 during normal operation so that the arm ii and hollow pin wheel shaft 5 to which the arm is attached rotate in unison with the sector 9 and the driven shaft 6 to which the sector 9' is attached. Thus the spring l3 and arm lug i2 meets a yielding spring controlled coupling between the driven shaft 6 and the hollow pin wheel shaft 5.

An adjustable stop plate it is attached to the sector 9 in partially overlapping relation with the peripheral notch It thereof. By loosening clamp screws 55 and shifting the stop plate i i to or fro, the extent of the peripheral notch id and differential range of the sector 9- and arm i i may be regulated. In operation the record strip being uniformly advanced in the direction of the arrow in Fig. l, is momentarily arrested by descent of a recording or imprinting element it into pressure engagement with the moving record strip 2. The arrest of the record strip will resist continued rotation of the pin wheels imprinting'elernent iii, the forward shoulder of the notch Ill moves away from the lug E2 of the In the meantime the arm H, and the spring i3, advancing with the sector 9 toward the lug !2 against which: it is engaged, is placed under increasing tension. When the printing element It is again elevated, thus releasing the record strip, the tensioned spring l3 reacts to advance the arm ii at an accelerated rate of speed until it again engages with the forward shoulder of the sector notch m. This accelerated movement of the arm ii carries with it. the pinwheels 4 and record strip 2 until they catch up with the driving mech anism. Thereafter the record strip continues to advance at the uniformly timed rate of speed, until again arrested. The record strip is thus automatically subjected to successive steps including advancement at the uniform established rate of speed, then held stationary during the recording or imprinting interval, and subsequently advanced a limited distance at an accelerated rate of speed, whereupon it is restored to its former normal rate of advancement and the cycle is repeated.

The strip is thus protected from injury by the continued pull of the feeding means while advancement thereof is resisted. This protective feature of the yielding coupling with the driving means is operative while the strip is arrested by whatever means, whether intentional or acci dental.

The modification illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive employs the same mechanism before descr bed, but is designed to relieve the record strip or web from excessive tension by providing 4 a parallel metal tape to take a part of the strain when the record strip is suddenly arrested.

Utilizing the assembly of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, there is added thereto on the hollow shaft 5, in closely spaced relation with the pin wheel 4 a sprocket wheel ii. The sprocket ii is here illustrated as a spur gear pinion, which is en- *gageahle in closely spaced holes is in a flat metal tape or'belt E9. The tape or perforated belt 19, which functions as a sprocket chain, passes over a' distantly spaced idler sprocket 26 upon a shaft 2!. The upper reach of the tape or belt 59 passes over the table i in a plane common with that of the record, strip 2. in this instance the recording or imprinting element It, carries a spring pressed plunger 22 which upon depression of the imprinting element iii, engages the traveling tape i9 under pressure against the yielding resistance of its spring 23. When the plunger 22 engages with tape i9 upon descent of the imprinting element it, the belt or tape l9 takes the strain of the increasing tension of the springlii, and thus relieves the record strip of excessive strain and shock which might cause mutilation.

From. the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the characterrdescribed possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts Without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any'of its advantages. p

While in order to comply with the statute the nvention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into efiect', and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A strip feeding mechanism for intermittently advancing a periodically arrested record strip past a record receiving or imprinting position by a continuous uniformly operating actuating means, including a hollow pin wheel shaft, revoluble pin wheels carried thereby and having progressive feeding engagement with a traveling record strip, a driving shaft extending through the hollow pin wheel shaft, a shouldered sector carried by the driving shaft, an arm carried by the pin wheel shaft and normally engaging. the shoulder of the driving shaft carried sector, a spring carried by the sector urging the arm into engagement with the shoulder for unison rotation of the drive and pin wheel shafts, and against the tension of which the drive shaft is capable of continued rotation independently of the pin wheel shaft upon temporary arrest of the record strip, the reaction of such spring upon release of the record strip serving to accelerate the rotation of the pin wheel shaft and advancement of the record strip until restored to uniform advancement in unison with the rotation of the drive shaft. V

2. A strip feeding mechanism for intermittently advancing a record strip at different alternate rates of speed past a record receiving position, including strip feeding devices, continuous uni-speed driving mechanism therefor, a rotary member moving in unison with the driving mechanism having a limited recess therein, a rotary member moving in unison with the strip feeding devices and having engagement within the recess of the first mentioned rotary member, one of said rotary members being capable of movement relative to the other within the limits ofsaid recess, a spring arm carried by the first of said rotary members and operatively engaging the other rotary member, andsubjected to tension by motion of one of said rotary members relative to the other, the reaction of the spring arm upon subsequent advancement of the strip serving to accelerate the speed of the strip feeding devices until the rotary members are reengaged for continued unison rotation in synchronism with the driving mechanism.

3. A strip feeding mechanism for intermittently advancing a periodically arrested record strip at different alternate rates of speed past a record receiving position, including strip feeding devices, a rotary shaft therefor, a rotary drive shaft, driving means for actuating the drive shaft at a continuous uniform rate of rotation, a yielding coupling between the drive shaft and the strip feeding device shaft comprising a pair of normally interengaging contact members, one on each shaft, and a spring carried by the driving shaft contact member and yieldingly engaging the contact member on the strip feeding device shaft, the tension of which is increased by the advancement of the driving shaft contact member independently of the opposing contact member carried by the strip feeding device shaft during periods of rest of the strip, the reaction of which upon subsequent release of the strip accelerates the speed of the strip feeding devices and the contact member carried thereby until arrested by reengagement with the drive shaft carried contact member after which the strip feeding devices continue to rotate in unison with the drive shaft.

4. In a strip feeding mechanism for a traveling record strip subject to intermittent periods of rest during recording or imprinting operations thereon, a continued uni-speed driving mechanism therefor, and means for converting the continuous drive thereof into intermittent feeding action of the strip feeding mechanism at alternate different rates of advancement of the strip including a rotary recessed sector comprising a part of the driving mechanism, a projection comprising a part of the feeding mechanism engageable within said recess and movable relative thereto, means determining the extent of such relative movement comprising a member carried by said sector and adjustable relative thereto to very the extent of said recess, and a resilient member carried by the sector against the yielding influence of which the projection is movable relative to the sector.

5. A strip feeding mechanism for a recording or imprinting apparatus wherein the record strip is intermittently temporarily arrested during the recording or imprinting operation, including strip feeding means, a continuous operating uni-speed actuating mechanism therefor, a yielding connection between the uni-speed actuating mechanism and the strip feeding means yieldingly compensating for the temporary arrest of the record strip while the actuating mechanism continues to operate, means for arresting the strip feeding means simultaneously with the arrest of the record strip, and means for temporarily accelerating the speed of advancement of the rec- 0rd strip when released until its advancement is again synchronized'with the uni-speed actuating mechanism. v i

6. A strip feeding means for a recording or imprinting apparatus wherein the record strip is intermittently temporarily arrested during the recording or imprinting operation, including strip feeding devices, a continuous operating unispeed actuating means therefor, a yielding connection between the actuating means and feeding devices, a traveling belt coupled in driving relationship with the strip feeding devices and advanced in unison with the record strip and belt engaging means arresting the travel of the belt simultaneously with the arrest of the record strip during the recording and imprinting operation thereon.

7. A strip feeding means for a recording or imprinting apparatus wherein the record strip is intermittently temporarily arrested during the recording or imprinting operation, including strip feeding devices, a continuous operating unispeed actuating means therefor, a yielding connection between the actuating means and feeding devices, a traveling belt coupled in. driving relationship with the strip feeding devices and disposed in parallel relation with the record strip and advanced in unison therewith, belt arresting means engageable therewith simultaneously with the arrest of the record strip during the recording or imprinting operation thereon, the arrested belt resisting the advancing influence of the continuously operating actuating means thereby relieving the record strip of excessive strain and shock to prevent injury or mutilation thereof.

8. A strip feeding means for a recording or imprinting apparatus wherein the record strip is intermittently temporarily arrested during the recording or imprinting operation, including strip feeding devices, a continuous operating unispeed actuating means therefor, a yielding coupling between the actuating means and the strip feeding devices compensating for the arrest of the record strip while the actuating means continues to operate, and a detent associated with the strip feeding devices effective during the period of arrest of the record strip to resist the initial shock to the record strip of its arrest and thereafter resist the tensioning effect of the strip feeding devices on the strip, to prevent damage thereto.

9. A strip feedingmechanism for a recording or imprinting apparatus wherein the record strip is intermittently arrested during the recording or imprinting operation, characterized by :a resiliently driven continuously energized strip feeding means, and means for arresting said strip feeding means simultaneously with the arrest of the strip by the imprinting apparatus in opposition to the continued actuation thereof, such continued actuation being absorbed by the inherent resiliency of the strip feeding means.

10. In a strip feeding device for a recording or imprinting apparatus wherein the record strip is intermittently arrested during the recording or imprinting operation, a resiliently driven continuously energized strip feeding device, the construction and arrangement being such that con tinued energization of the strip feeding device during the imprinting operation upon the arrested strip is absorbed by the inherent resiliency of the strip feeding device, including an adjustable stop, movement of which adjustably limits the absorption of energy in the strip feeding device.

11. A strip feeding mechanism for advancing a record strip; past; an imprinting or recording position at which the strip is intermittently ar rested during the imprinting or recording operation, including a resiliently'driven strip feeding device, continuously operative actuating means therefor with which the strip feeding device is continuously engaged, and means for arresting motion of the strip feeding device simultaneously with the arrest of the record strip during the imprinting operation, the constant influence of the continuously operative actuating means being absorbed. by the resiliently driven strip feeding device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS V Number Name Date Parnaland May 11, 1897 Ireland et a1. Sept. 23, 1919- Metzner, Apr. 3,. 1928 Swift, Jr. Jan. 27, 1931 Pfeifier et a1 Feb. 14, 1933 Richardson et a1. Aug. 22, 1933 Terry Nov. 15, 1938 

